Super Lawyer

Category: Interviews

  • Pritha Jha, Associate Partner, DSK Legal, on her internships, M&A, and her diverse experience

    Pritha Jha, Associate Partner, DSK Legal, on her internships, M&A, and her diverse experience

    Pritha Jha graduated in law from ILS Law College, in 2007. After a successful stint with Desai & Diwanji, she is currently Associate Partner at DSK Legal, where her role entails managing private equity and M&A transactions.

    In this interview we speak to her about:

    • Her time in ILS Law College
    • Her experience in M&A
    • Her current role as Associate Partner at DSK

    What motivated you to pursue law?

    For me, pursuing a career in any field other than law was never really an option, simply because my mind never contemplated being anything else. As far back as I can remember, I have always wanted to be a lawyer. I always enjoyed logical arguments. Being argumentative came naturally to me. While making a career choice, if you have the option, always choose to make a career in what you love doing. You will never fail because you will never be bored and you will never treat what you do as “simply a job”. When you love what you do, its personal.

    Could you briefly explain your law school experience at ILS? 

    When I started studying law in 2002, law wasn’t considered a serious career option, it was actually considered a “last resort”. There were not many who chose law as their “first option”. There was no CLAT and there weren’t as many NLUs around. At the time, ILS was one of the top three universities. There was no disadvantage.

    ILS Law made opportunities available to those who wanted it. There were classes, there were moots, there were extracurricular activities, but ILS focuses more on the theory of law rather than on the practical aspect of being “market ready”, especially for a corporate lawyer.  

     

    What kind of internships did you undertake during your student years?

    I didn’t start interning until my fourth year in law. This is primarily because of the way subjects in law school were spaced out. I didn’t see the point in interning when I hadn’t spent any time studying any law. When I did start interning, it was with various law firms to figure out what interested me most. Some of my internships were with a general corporate team, some with litigation teams and when getting an internship at a law firm was hard, I also interned at an LPO. Securing internships can be difficult, but the focus should really be on practice areas rather than just trying to get a big name on your CV. A lot of students think internships are just about that, getting the name of a firm on your CV without realising that if you make the correct impact as an intern at any firm, you may secure a pre-placement offer. To the contrary, if it appears that you’re just out to have fun, you could also be ensuring you never get picked up, even though your CV looks bright and shiny. Attitude towards work always tells a bigger story than the CV.

     

    What are your areas of specialisation in law? 

    My specialisation is in mergers, acquisitions and private equity. While I’ve worked in a variety of sectors, of late my focus has been on acquisitions through earn out structures. 

    I decided what I wanted to do through my internships and through the first years of being an associate. Speaking with people who have spent some time in the profession helps in analysing the pros and cons of the various options available, whether it be litigation, general corporate, private equity, mergers and acquisitions, taking a position in house, there are lots of options. Every individual needs to understand that they will never have everything they want. You need to decide before hand what your priorities are and what will fit your working style best. Ultimately, people will stick with what makes them happy. That’s how it worked out for me.

     

    What level of importance needs to be attached to GPAs, in light of the other academic and non-academic activities that may be undertaken in law school? 

    I will not deny that grades are important in giving an individual their first break. But topping your class is not going to help if you do not possess other attributes. Individuals are judged on various levels, their academics, their ability to speak and write English, the way they present themselves, their interests outside of law, everything counts. Rather than focusing on one aspect, one needs to focus on trying to achieve a balance in all. Everything adds to an individual’s personality.

     

    Is an L.L.M absolutely necessary for a career in law? 

    In my view, an LLM is a good option if your choice of career in law is teaching. From my perspective, an LLM does not really add to what you know after having obtained an LLB. However, an LLM can teach a great deal of things if you choose to pursue it after having gained a few years of practical experience. You relate to the LLM program more and you pick up a few other skills that law school may not have taught you or may not have prepared you for. For example, writing a research paper teaches the mind to think things through methodically, presentations help individuals develop the confidence to speak before large groups of individuals, some courses will also teach business development skills. It depends on each individual and their needs. Lots of LLM programs are offered around the world. If you must, choose from one that helps you achieve your goal. A lot of people join the LLM program for the wrong reasons, sometimes not knowing what they expect to achieve from it. If you don’t know why you’re doing it, don’t do it. Having said all this, is an LLM necessary? Absolutely not.

     

     

    When and why did you decide to make the transition from Desai & Diwanji to DSK Legal?

    I made my move to DSK Legal after having spent about two and a half years at Desai & Diwanji. Having spent that time there, I felt like I needed a change because my abilities were not being exploited to their full potential. Being an ambitious individual, I needed to do more and needed to do it more quickly. Added to that, the immediate partner that I worked with back then moved to the United States, and at the time, I was quite emotional about his departure.

     

    Tell us about your current work profile with DSK Legal. What does a regular work day look like, for you?

    I am an Associate Partner and I specialise in mergers and acquisitions and private equity. Over the last few years I have specialised particularly in mergers and acquisitions in earn out deals in the advertising space. Having recently been appointed associate partner, it’s a shift in focus from delivering work to focusing on delivering and getting new work. It’s a challenging job profile for me.

    I really wish there was something like a regular work day at DSK Legal. There simply isn’t one. Some days are astoundingly fast, some days are excruciatingly slow and then there are days that are just never ending. However, I assure you, it’s never boring.

     

    What is your message to our readers?

    My message to any young individual aiming to be good lawyers is that their first priority should be on picking up the skills that are required to be a good lawyer. The first few years of being a professional lawyer is all about making sacrifices and learning how to be a great lawyer. It takes a great deal of commitment, and although sacrificing at every turn may not feel the best at the time, it reaps huge rewards in the long run. Work very hard and nothing will stand in your way. Money never comes before hard work, money is a consequence of it. You have to earn it. If you’re good at what you do, you will never need to chase money.

     

     

  • Satej Joshi, Legal Manager, Zensar Tech, on his diverse work experience

    Satej Joshi, Legal Manager, Zensar Tech, on his diverse work experience

    Satej graduated from ILS Law College in 2008. Since then, he has been working in the field of corporate law. His first job was with GSPL, Gandhinagar, where he worked for close to two years. His work there was primarily related to exploration laws and laws related to sale and distribution of natural gas. He was also engaged in contracts with respect to natural gas. Post that, he returned to Pune and started working with Zensar Technologies as an Executive. He was involved in negotiating and finalising contracts like MSA, SoW, MoU, NDA, etc. He was also involved in IP and litigation matters. Thereafter, he joined KPIT Technologies in 2013. He then came back to Zensar as Manager in 2016.
    In this interview we speak to him about:
    • His experience at KPIT Technologies
    • His experience at GSPL
    • His role at Zensar

    What would you like to say to our readers in the manner of an introduction of yourself?

    I work as a Manager in legal dept of Zensar Tech in Pune. I primarily look into contracting and IPR.

    What motivated you to pursue law?

    I am first generation lawyer. It was actually my mother who convinced me to get into this profession. I did consult some professionals too before taking up law as a profession.

     

    Tell us a bit about your college days at ILS Law College. 

    ILS gave me a very fulfilling and enriching five years. I can’t claim that I was particular good in academics. It was around third year of my course I realised that I would pursue Corp Law as area of specialisation. My seniors and faculties helped me a lot in coming to this conclusion. They were always very helpful.   

     

    Could you tell us about the internships you took up, and what you learnt from those experiences?

    I did my internships in Little and Co. and then at HDFC Bank. Both my bosses were very kind and they taught me various things about the profession. I believe the internships are very important for students. However it is also equally important to prepare yourself for the internship and work really hard.

     

    What advice would you give students in avoiding a decision paralysis?

    It should be decided on the basis of your strengths and your interest. Discussion with your seniors, faculties and mentors can help a long way. I do believe there is a gap between the academics and the profession. Colleges should do more so that the professionals meet and guide the students. It will help them greatly. I am willing to participate in such programmes. If students benefit from it I will be delighted.

     

    What areas of law interested you during your legal education?

    Corp law and IPR.

     

    Tell us about your early professional experiences at GSPL, Gandhinagar. 

    GSPL was a campus placement. It was an exciting place to work. Working in energy company is always challenging and full of learning. I wanted to start my carrier with a stable company. GSPL enjoys a good reputation in market.

     

    What was the transition like from a law student to lawyer?

    It was a difficult one, I must confess. Suddenly, everybody expects you to be all serious. But as you grow and get accustomed to it you start enjoying it.

     

    What prompted you to take up a position with Zensar Technologies Limited? 

    I wanted to get hang of IT field. Zensar being in Pune was also one factor. It was a great learning experience. I did get opportunity to work on a few large deals. Also working on IPR matters was great.

     

    What were the challenges and learning opportunities that you were faced with at Zensar?

    Challenges were aplenty. Also coming to IT from energy sector wasn’t that easy. But apart from that there were many learning opportunities in contracting and IPR.

     

    How did working with KPIT Technologies help you diversify your work profile?

    Working with KPIT was great. KPIT being heavily present in automobile and smart transportation it was very different working with them.

     

    On what parameters do you choose the projects you work on?

    I generally don’t get to choose my work. That’s the reality of corporate life. But the plus side is you get to work on everything and it helps building your profile.

     

    As the Manager –Legal at Zensar Technologies Limited, what does a typical working day look like for you?

    Typical day consists of drafting and negotiating contracts with a few meetings thrown in between.

     

    What are your interests outside law?

    I like listening to music and travelling. On a typical weekend I for long walks and play TT. Also I am bit of a movie buff.

     

    Giving the dynamic nature of the field you practice in, how do you keep yourself updated about the latest happenings in the law?

    News, online portals, magazines.

     

    What advice would you like to give our readers, who are mostly law students and young lawyers?

    I am not sure if I am someone who is entitled to give advice. It surely helps to understand your interest early on in your career. Also, do work on strengths and keep talking to your seniors. But don’t forget to have your share of fun and unwind.

     

  • Gaurav Wahie, Associate Partner, Clasis Law, on being Partner, and Corporate Law

    Gaurav Wahie, Associate Partner, Clasis Law, on being Partner, and Corporate Law

    Gaurav Wahie graduated from National Law Institute University, Bhopal, in 2005. He then went on to pursue his Masters from University College London, specialising in International Finance. After successful stints with Fox & Mandal, Linklaters, Talwar Thakore & Associates, DSK Legal, Ashurst, and Indian Law Partners, he is currently Associate Partner at Clasis Law, India. Gaurav is also a dual qualified lawyer, enrolled as an advocate in India and registered as a non-practicing solicitor in England & Wales.

    In this interview we speak to him about:

    • His time at NLIU
    • Pursuing a Master’s degree in London
    • His experience in Corporate Law

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

    I am an Associate Partner in the corporate team of Clasis Law, Delhi office. My primary area of focus is acquisitions and joint ventures (domestic and cross border).

     

    Can you briefly describe your experience as a law student at a prestigious institution like NLIU, Bhopal?

    I would describe my time at NLIU as exciting. However, given that I was part of the third batch and there was hardly any infrastructure, we did face some challenges.  Also, given that it was also my first time away from home, so that was a bit of a struggle in the initial few months.

    While life as a student was tough with three test weeks (which thankfully changed to one mid-term in the fourth year), project presentation and end term exams, NLIU turned out to be a great learning experience not only as a law student but also on a personal front. It taught me to be independent and I made some of my closest friends in those five years.

     

    What do you have to say about the difference between here and the University College, London- where you finished your Masters?

    The biggest difference was the faculty. At UCL, a lot of the teachers were current and retired partners of international law firms, which was not the case at NLIU. Another major difference was in the teaching style, which pushed one to be regular in class and up to date with the reading assignments as classes were more of a discussion session rather than a lecture.

     

    What are your areas of specification? 

    Initially, at Fox Mandal and TTA, my area of focus was capital markets. I developed interest in it during my days at UCL. However, with the 2008 crash and capital market work drying up, I started getting involved in acquisitions and joint ventures and to this day this is my area of focus.

     

    How significant is a Masters Degree?

    I would say it is a matter of personal preference and goals. A Master’s degree is not a must (particularly for firm or counsel practice), but it helps in several ways. Aside from the focus on academia, it is an opportunity to interact with and get to know people from various countries. I believe that it really broadens one’s outlook. However, for anyone considering LL.M, I would not recommend it immediately after your undergraduate degree. One must work for two to three years and then consider an LL.M. Working first helps in choosing correctly the area of specification and getting the best out of your coursework.

     

    What were the internships you engaged in during your student years?

    My internships were a mix of firms, corporate houses and chamber practice. Rather than stressing about getting an internship in a law firm, I would recommend that first and second year students should intern with litigators (at District Court and/or High Court). Only from the third year should one look out for internships in the corporate field. Also, it is very important that the last two or three internships are done at firms where one is keen to apply.

     

    How would you describe your initial experience?

    Baptism by fire. I still remember my first day in a law firm. I had barely settled in when a senior walked up to my desk (for what I assumed would be a courtesy introductory visit) and without saying much left a shareholders agreement on my desk with instructions to proof read the document and give my comments by end of the day. I have been lucky to get opportunities to work with great seniors (be it Fox Mandal, TTA, DSK/ILP) during my initial years who took keen interest in my development and growth as a lawyer.

     

    Do you have any words of advice for young interns which they may follow to obtain a positive impression in firms?

    Diligence and sincerity, these for me are the two most important aspects not only for interns but for anyone looking at a career in law. You must demonstrate an interest in learning and realise that as an intern it is upon you to make yourself visible to the lawyers.

     

    As a partner in Classis Law, how does a regular day at the firm go by?

    Absolutely not the way I used to imagine it would be while I was still an associate. It usually starts with taking stock of what needs to be done and then prioritising the deliverables. From there on it’s a mix of attending calls, reviewing documents, discussions with clients and team members and business development pitches.

     

    Keeping the corporate and law world aside, what are your hobbies?

    Netflix and travelling. I am a firm believer that travelling is a great learning experience – you get to know about different cultures and cuisines, and meet people you would not usually bump into.

     

    What would be your words of advice for our dear readers?

    Develop a keen interest in reading (absolutely necessary) and keep yourself abreast with the latest developments, not just in your area of practice as a lawyer but generally be aware of what is happening around you.

  • Debesh Panda, Advocate-on-Record, Supreme Court of India, on mooting, internships, and arbitration

    Debesh Panda, Advocate-on-Record, Supreme Court of India, on mooting, internships, and arbitration

    Debesh graduated in law from NLSIU, in 2008. He is an Advocate on Record before the Supreme Court of India. He is also regularly engaged to appear before various High Courts and Tribunals. He specialises in Arbitration and his thesis at the Geneva Masters in International Dispute Settlement, focused on the intersection of the Arbitration regime in India with the standards prescribed under the New York Convention.

    In this interview we speak to him about:

    • His time at NLSIU
    • His passion for mooting
    • Studying in Geneva

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

    I’m a first generation lawyer, practising in New Delhi, after graduating in 2008. I’m originally from Bhubaneswar, Orissa. Although I primarily practise as an Advocate on Record before the Supreme Court of India, a significant part of my practice involves matters before various High Courts and Tribunals, both in Delhi and outside Delhi.

     

    Why did you choose to pursue a degree in law?

    I got done with school after 10th grade (we can opt to join Junior College in 11th grade in Orissa). I took up science and started preparing for IIT, since that is pretty much what everyone was doing and my family also wanted me to consider a career in science and engineering. A year later, I realised it was a mistake. I also did not want to take up my father’s profession (Chartered Accountancy) since I had seen it from my childhood and realised that I did not have the aptitude for it. That’s when I started looking around for options. One of my father’s dear friends, who is a leading practitioner of International Arbitration, was kind enough to spare time over his summer vacations and gave me a bird’s eye view of what he does as a profession. Deviling with him over basic concepts that vacation at Delhi piqued my interest in law, and that’s how I ended up applying to NLSIU.

     

    Give us a brief overview of your life at NLSIU. 

    Law school was truly a life changing experience. Credit must go to the ethos and the culture of education, which is largely peer based. NLS made me think, but within the microcosm of some extraordinary individuals who were always happy to give direction to such thinking. Like every academic campus, there was politics, but it was self-contained and self-tempered and not like what you see in many academic campuses these days. One reason for that could be that the community understands what it has taken to earn the tag and in order to retain that tag, one must keep achieving academically without letting political considerations predominate. The entire culture of NLS is built around the student community. Even the alumni are extremely well connected with each other. It has been my experience, for instance, when I was mooting on an unfamiliar area of law, that I could virtually close my eyes and approach any senior or alumni who had exposure to that area. It was amazing to see the kind of effort they put in to help me out. I don’t know how it works in other universities but I am happy to acknowledge that I owe a lot to NLSIU. Even now, I try and do whatever best I can, whenever someone from law school writes to me or calls me up for any help with mooting or any other activity. I am also in touch with some of the faculty, like Dr. Sairam Bhat. I try to contribute in whatever way possible towards the institution.

    What are the subjects that you took particular interest in, during your law school days? 

    I was not the most academically inclined when I was at law school. When I graduated, I did not even have a five point CGPA. The only lectures I thoroughly enjoyed were that of Professor U.R. Rai (Constitutional law) and Mrinal Satish (Criminal law), but that was more because of their perspectives rather than the subject itself. I actually loved mooting/advocacy, which is what drew me towards law in the first place. During the course of moot courts at law school, particularly the Vis East moot which I participated in during my fourth year, I developed an affinity towards Commercial law and International Arbitration. Although we crashed out in the Semi Finals on a razor thin margin, my partner Amarta Roy and I both received Honourable Mentions. Some of the arbitrators who heard us during the arguments fondly remembered us, as I discovered, when I went back a few years later as an Arbitrator. Two of them have remained in touch although it has been nearly ten years since we first met, and have also helped me throughout my professional career. So, compared to the subjects taught at law school, I would say mooting played a greater role in my career and the choices I made. 

    What activities, both academic and non-academic that you engaged in as a law student? 

    Anyone who knew me in law school would vouch for the fact that the only non-academic activity I engaged in was eating out! I would sincerely recommend it as a “necessary experience” if you are in Bangalore. It is an activity that drives me even today, although most joints at Delhi do not hold a candle to some of those old favourites at Bangalore! The only other memorable activity I remember was being a part of the Moot Court Society (with an amazing bunch of people like Mihir Naniwadekar, Preet Inder Singh and Shantanu Naravane) and co-founding the NLS International Arbitration Moot in 2008.

     

    What drew you towards arbitration, and dispute resolution in general?

    In my practice so far, I have not yet come across any two matters, which are exactly alike. That is what I enjoy about dispute resolution, there is always something new to work on everyday! I do not see myself becoming a practitioner who specialises in only one area of law because variety is the essence of my profession as a litigating lawyer. Sometimes, I think of cases as a jigsaw puzzle where all the pieces are missing and both sides invite the judges to paint the missing pieces and put the picture together from their points of view. That’s when you start realising that what the most successful practitioners of this art do – they have perfected the art of balancing out when being strategically technical with the law gets results, and when you must discard technicality and dive headlong into the matter to present a perspective that would meet the sense of justice of the Court. The law just ends up filling up the vacant slots in the process. As far as your question on arbitration goes, I guess it stems from a love for civil trial. A good trial is more a battle of the wits of the lawyers rather than their respective clients and is often, a pleasure to conduct. Unfortunately, given how overworked our trial courts are, it sometimes ends up not being very professionally satisfying. Arbitration lets you have your cake professionally as a trial lawyer and eat it too!

    What kind of internships did you engage in during your student years which you feel were invaluable to you in reaching your current position?

    I used internships at law school to get a sense what I did not want to do, rather than what I wanted to do. I started in Orissa High Court in my first year, where I felt pretty lost and did not get any clue of what was happening. The second year I worked at a firm in Delhi that specialised in Dispute Resolution and realised that I was not cut out to work in a firm. The third year I focused on criminal trial and decided that criminal defence in trial courts was sometimes too hardcore to be my cup of tea. There was also a time in between when I got tired of the law and on a whim, dabbled in investment banking. So I ended up doing a stint at Goldman Sachs, only to realise that I loved the law a lot more than investment banking! Fourth and fifth years, I interned at the Supreme Court and also with an excellent civil trial lawyer in the High Court (who is now a judge in the Delhi High Court). That’s when I realised I was right at home, and came back to Delhi after graduating.

    However, the most important stint before I started practicing independently would be the one at Senior Advocate Mr. A.K. Ganguli’s chamber, which was for nearly a year and a half. He truly made me slog it out and it was a steep learning curve during those eighteen odd months. An old school practitioner who doesn’t use computers much, he simply remembers everything off the top of his head! Citations, statutory provisions, a petition he drafted ten years back…it is amazing how everything is right on his fingertips, always. An incredibly hard taskmaster, he would leave no opportunity unturned to fine tune any petition or written submission, before presenting it in Court, even if it meant I had to figure out how to do the last minute research and keep everything ready for the hearing in Court at the eleventh hour. I will never forget the time he made me draft 41 versions of a review petition to be filed before the High Court at Chandigarh, till it came down to six pages from the original 22 page draft I had prepared. The High Court declined to review the judgement, but the reaction of the judges in the Supreme Court when the SLP came up for hearing was nothing short of memorable. I still remember the look on the faces of the judges when the matter was called for hearing. They just smiled in unison and said “NOTICE” and “STAY” before anyone uttered a word! Working with him taught me the importance of being fair to a Court, rather than being hard-nosed on facts and law and how that, by itself sometimes gives you greater leverage than all your preparation and research. During that time, many of the Advocates and law firms which used to engage him also started giving me drafting work as well as briefs as junior counsel. I also got a few opportunities to brief several leading senior counsels. That stint in his chamber is when I truly started learning the law and realised that Courts always know the judgements we research on and cite. The difference lies in the perspective with which these leading practitioners present that point, which is what makes all the difference when the judges have to form an opinion as to which way to lean.

     

    Tell us about your Geneva Masters experience and briefly describe your thesis.

    Frankly I would not have been able to do the Masters if it wasn’t for Amrita (my wife). After we got married, this is the very first thing she made me agree to, spoke to my professors at law school, got the letters of recommendations organised, and also persuaded Mr. Ganguli to recommend me. Having practiced for five years, I was pretty unsure whether to leave it all and head out for a year. Ultimately, Amrita and I both agreed that instead of an “academic” masters like Oxford or Cambridge, a masters like MIDS or Queen Mary was better suited for a practitioner like me who loved Arbitration. Many of my colleagues from the Vis East whom I asked for advice also concurred. Ultimately I ended up choosing MIDS because Professor Zachary Douglas, who is one of the leading practitioners and academics in the field of Investment treaty arbitration, had recently shifted there from Cambridge, and the courses he was offering like International law in Domestic Courts and State Contracts, focused on areas, which may be of utility to me during my practice in India in the long term.

    Geneva had a lot of useful takeaways for me as an Indian practitioner. My thesis dissected the numerous interventions by the Supreme Court of India in commercial arbitrations seated outside India over the years, and sought to demonstrate that this was largely attributable to unexplained oddities in the Indian statutory framework when compared to the text of the UNCITRAL Model Law and the New York Convention. Keeping in mind the White Industries case, I tried to demonstrate that such interventions may implicate treaty obligations and the Supreme Court of India, by declaring in BALCO that the law laid down by it would apply only to arbitration agreement executed after 16.09.2012, may just have left the door open for more investment treaty claims against India. My analysis was significantly influenced by what was taught by Van den Berg during his course on the New York Convention and what Professor Douglas taught during his courses on Arbitration and State Contracts. I think MIDS is a good option for Indian practitioners who are looking to take a break for a year and pick up a little more depth in subjects like Arbitration, Public International Law and WTO Laws.

     

    Which is the ideal time to do an L.L.M? Right after undergraduate studies, or after a few years of practice post undergraduate studies?

    It depends on what you want from the LLM. A lot of people prefer going to Oxford or Cambridge right after law school if they are getting a full scholarship because it allows them to finish their academic pursuits before they start working/ practising. Personally, I would not prefer to pursue an LLM simply because I happened to apply and got admitted with a full scholarship, unless I was sure that it was taking me forward in life. By the time I applied for an LLM, I had practiced for nearly five years and had a broad idea of the fact that I needed more depth in the subject of Arbitration if I was going to take up more work in that area. That is how I ended up choosing MIDS. So I guess its best to do an LLM whenever you are sure of what you want to do long term.

     

    Could you please offer a few words of motivation for those who’ve either never tried mooting or for those who’ve tried but have faced defeat, from your treasure trove of experience?

    (Debesh has co-founded the NLS International Arbitration Moot Court Competition, one of the most reputed arbitration moots in India.)

    Its not work going to waste. That’s for sure. I spent six months working on the Vis Moot and lost in the semis, but the research I did on pathological arbitration clauses helped me settle six arbitration claims against two of my clients (although they were all prior to the Enercon judgement!). The opposite party understood during the mediation that the entire arbitration would be a non-starter and even if they got an award, it may not survive proceedings under Section 34. In my second year at law school I had spent four months on a moot on the concept of repugnancy under the Constitution of India, which we also lost. That research gave me the clarity to draft a writ petition where we got a stay order on the first day itself in high court and relying on our order, several other assesses also got relief. I guess one of the reasons the Court was inclined to grant interim relief on day one because we formulated the proposition with a lot of precision and within the four corners of what we argued, it was difficult to see how the action of the State Government was not colourable. So if you take up mooting, please do not do it to add to your CV or to get a medal. Mooting is just another way of learning skills of deconstruction, problem solving and presentation. Also, I would encourage students to never underestimate writing a memorial. A good draft is a mirror to a clear mind and what I have learnt in my experience so far is that a well drafted petition can sometimes be more decisive of a matter rather who was engaged to lead the arguments at the hearing. The same goes for memorials in moot courts. Judges in moot courts and real life do take time and read the brief before coming to the hearing. Quite often, I have seen Courts not even let Petitioners counsel open their submissions if they have understood the point pleaded and the opposing counsel is straightaway asked to explain why the relief sought for, should not be granted. You get a clear first movers advantage there. Why should you lose such an opportunity?

     

    How many hours a day do you spend at work? 

    We have no fixed hours in our office. If you done for the day, you can leave even in the afternoon, and if you are not done, there is a bed available should you need to do an all nighter! Sometimes, a single matter can take hours to work on, if it involves complicated issues and on other days, we manage to turn in a lot of work and head out for dinner together in the evening. The only thing I regret is that the frequency of dinners has reduced in the last two years but I intend to work on it during this year.

    For instance, last year, while representing the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons before the Committee headed by Justice A.P. Shah (Retd.) in the Gas Migration disputes arising out of the Krishna Godavari Basin, I had less than two weeks till the final hearings to get up to speed on the matter after being instructed. It was one of the most challenging hearings in my life simply in terms of how factually and legally complicated the entire case was, leaving aside the fact that it was a totally new area of law for me and I had to also learn the science of Oil and Gas exploration overnight to appreciate the intricacies of the dispute. I virtually worked round the clock on that one single case for nearly a fortnight to formulate our strategy and submissions before the hearings commenced. It was truly gratifying to see all that preparation pay off when the Committee gave its report in August 2016, accepting the submissions we had made, in toto.

    Our office had a similar experience while defending a real estate developer before the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in a class action under Section 12(1)(c) of the Consumer Disputes Act, 1986. Two of our interns did an excellent job of digging up  case law under Order 1, Rule 8 of the CPC which was pat on the point and helped us persuade the NCDRC that there was no scope for a “joint complaint” under Section 12(1)(c). That one matter took long hours, and many of us worked for days altogether researching. But the long hours paid off in the end.

     

    Is there any other suggestion you would like to give to our budding lawyers?

    Enjoy your work. If you don’t enjoy what you do, you will find it hard to give it your 100%. Also don’t expect any results overnight and don’t have unreal expectations. Take your time in identifying what you like. It is an incredibly human profession and a lot of it is built around one-on-one relationships and perceptions. Even judges learn to trust you only after they have heard you in a few matters, and feel that they can trust you to not mislead the court factually or legally. Enjoy the journey and don’t keep thinking of the destination only.

     

    Are there any other activities you are presently doing which are related to the law?

    There is a project being conducted by Centre for International Dispute Settlement, Geneva on how Bilateral Investment Treaties can be used as a tool for good governance, where I am working with Professors Zachary Douglas and Shalini Randeria. This is a long term project where we have been working comparing domestic legal systems in Mexico, Argentina, Czech Republic and India and seeing how the domestic system in each country is responding to changes in the Investment treaty regime. It is an exciting time to be doing this project since India has been dynamically changing its BIPA/BIPPA regime in the last two years and given India’s emerging international clout and reputation as a destination for Foreign Direct Investment, this research will be of considerable importance for other developing economies.

  • Krishnava Dutt, Managing Partner, Argus Partners, on working at ICICI, AMSS, and his experience

    Krishnava Dutt, Managing Partner, Argus Partners, on working at ICICI, AMSS, and his experience

    Krishnava graduated from Symbiosis International University, batch of 1999, with a degree in BSL LLB. Krishnava started his legal career in the Calcutta High Court where he practiced civil law. After a short stint at the High Court, he joined ICICI Bank in Mumbai where he gained several years of experience in handling transactions in the stressed assets space and international banking sector. He joined Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A. Shroff & Co. in 2005 and became the partner in charge of the eastern operations of the firm in the year 2007. He retired from Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A. Shroff & Co. as a partner in June of 2009. Krishnava is currently the Managing Partner of Argus Partners.

    In this interview we speak to him about:

    • Pursuing a BSL LLB degree
    • His experience spanning time in court, the banking sector, and law firms
    • Being Partner

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

    I am very fortunate to be a part of this profession and am extremely passionate about the subject of law. I am grateful for having seniors, peers and juniors from whom I have constantly learnt and continue to learn. I feel blessed because even after almost two decades, I absolutely love what I do.

     

    Do you feel that there is a divide between NLU and Non-NLU students?

    I personally did not find any difference. In my first job at ICICI Limited (as it then was), I had a large number of NLSIU almuni colleagues, some of whom are still my closest friends.

    One’s own career trajectory is based entirely on one’s own capabilities. While law school/college may help you find initial space in the ecosystem, the future and destiny of your career lies entirely in your own hands.

     

    What is unique about the B.S.L. course that you undertook and how did it contribute to your career in law?

    Law and society are really two sides of the same coin, intertwined and interdependent. One of the subjects I remember fondly is legal history and evolution of law against the backdrop of a dynamic society.

     

    What, in your opinion, is the level of importance that needs to be attached by a student to GPA? 

    Law school scores are the only objective criterion in a CV. Although a higher CGPA is definitely a significant indicator, co-curricular (publications and articles) or extra-curricular activities also play a significant part in shortlisting candidates.

     

    What kind of internships did you engage in during your student years?

    In all my years through college, I only interned at a counsel’s chamber – Mr. Abhrajit Mitra in Kolkata. Without a doubt, my learning there has been invaluable, and still holds me in good stead.

     

    What are your areas of specialisation and how did you go about choosing these fields?

    I straddle largely two practice areas i.e. General Corprate/M&A, as well and Banking & Finance. Having said that, I am also involved with quite a few commercial disputes.

     

    At what stage in one’s law school life must one pick a specialisation? 

    In law school, one’s career is at a nascent stage. Specialisation at that level is something I don’t really encourage. It’s very important for one to go out and learn and then decide their forte. We must be grateful that our profession offers us a boundless universe of knowledge. The initial years must be spent exploring that universe. Unless one has a very strong reason to choose a specialized area of law, one must navigate this labyrinthine world of law to really and truly appreciate any specialisation.

     

    What must the CV of one who is aspiring to land an internship/placement with a top notch corporate firm look like?

    Apart from the CGPA, co-curricular engagements such as articles and publications play a vital role while screening the CVs. Another area which is considered, is the extracurricular activities that one is engaged in, to ascertain a well- rounded development.

     

    Having started off at ICICI Bank, why did you choose to make the transition to a law firm?

    I must mention that the learning I received in ICICI was absolutely unparalleled. However, my transition was purely a personal choice. I wanted to explore areas beyond banking and finance.  Having said that, today, I see extremely bright minds in in-house roles. The last few decades, of course, driven by market dynamics, have created challenging opportunities in the in-house space with an identified trajectory which makes it an attractive career choice.

     

    Give us some insights on the qualities that Tier-I firms look for in prospective candidates.

    (Krishnava has previously worked at Amarchand & Mangaldas, one of the most sought after firms by law students, as Partner.)

    Broadly, the qualities one should demonstrate in an interview are:

    (a) good technical skills. Remember, it is a technical job which you are applying for after finishing five years of gaining technical knowledge. It takes just a few minutes for the interviewer to assess whether you are speaking from knowledge, or you are merely trying to second guess based on logic;

    (b) an analytical mind with a high level of curiosity on the subject. If you are discussing a paper you have written (or a moot or an internship note you have worked on, do demonstrate the breadth and depth of the research that you have undertaken to write/work on the paper/moot/note.

    (c) an ambitious and confident attitude with  a sense of purpose and meaning in what you want to achieve (while demonstrating this quality one must be careful not to be seen as over confident, brash or disrespectful). A word of caution, while a friendly disposition is always welcome, being overfriendly or casual during the interview may be counterproductive.

     

    Tell us about your current association with Argus Partners as a Managing Partner. 

    After resigning from Amarchand Mangaldas, I founded Argus Partners in 2009. In the year 2012 we merged with the firm Udwadia & Udeshi, which upon the merger, changed the name to Udwadia Udeshi & Argus Partners. In 2015, the firm Udwadia Udeshi & Argus partners changed its name to Argus Partners.

     

    Give us a brief capsule of the life of a partner and your average working day experience.

    Because of the young demographic matrix of our country, a partner of a law firm in India also goes through various stages. At a junior partner level, she is the main execution person leading the team and the transaction/matter. The responsibility is not only to the transaction/mater at hand but to also to strengthen the Firm’s relationship with the client. At a senior level the responsibility lies in expansion of the firm’s practice in all areas. This apart, various administrative functions of the firm are also supervised by some partners. At all levels, a partner must be a thought leader with the ability to inspire the next generation. Personally, as a Managing Partner of the firm, my time is divided between client work and various adminstrative matters.

     

    Is there any other suggestion you would like to give to our budding lawyers?

    In the age of social media where success and happiness of friends and colleagues are proudly displayed on their respective walls and continuously so, I am reminded of an old Chinese proverb which says, “the biggest source of unhappiness is over estimating the happiness of others”.  The future which will befriend artificial intelligence will also pay a hefty premium for cerebral input, for truly an intelligent mind. And the intelligent mind is the one who picks the nuances and expresses her mind from the depths of knowledge. There is no alternative to knowledge.

    Remember, you are the future and nothing can be more powerful than that. Believe in chasing dreams. Remember, winners are not made overnight, and also remember that success is not a destination but the journey, and a beautiful one at that!

     

  • Krishna Venkat, Partner, KLaw, on working at Crawford Bayley & Co., AZB Partners, and his experience in M&A

    Krishna Venkat, Partner, KLaw, on working at Crawford Bayley & Co., AZB Partners, and his experience in M&A

    Krishna graduated in law from The University of Manchester in 2004. He is a Corporate/M&A lawyer with of experience in handling cross border M&As for Indian and foreign companies. Krishna has also worked closely in structuring foreign direct investments in a variety of sectors, including into highly regulated areas such as tobacco manufacture & sales, and other general corporate laws. In addition, Krishna has worked closely with pharmaceutical & healthcare companies on a range of legal / regulatory issues that affect companies in this industry. This has involved making appearances before various Indian drug regulators from time to time. At KLaw, Krishna heads the FMCG, pharmaceutical & healthcare practice of the firm. Apart from the pharmaceutical industry, Krishna has also worked closely with several internationally reputed licensed payment system providers. Krishna’s experience also includes handling fraud investigations, dealing with investigators and devising strategies for the disclosure and resolution of findings made on conclusion of such investigations, including for listed companies. This experience also involved handling compounding and other remedial actions to be taken before different Indian regulators and guiding Indian and foreign companies on resolution of such matters.

    He has recently been awarded with 40 Under 40 Rising Star Awards by Legal Era Magazine.

    In this interview we speak to him about:

    • Studying in Manchester
    • His experience in the M&A domain
    • His current role as Partner

     

    Tell us a bit about your time as an undergraduate student at University of Manchester.

    The immediate thoughts that come to mind are entering lecture halls filled with students from across the world, sharing dorms with an equally diverse crowd of people and trying hard to keep up with all the cultural anecdotes and facets that I would encounter daily. The other vivid memory I have of my time there was our lectures in a building called the “Science building”. There was a large wall display in this building that listed many of the twenty-odd Nobel Laureates who have been associated with the University. Even though most of them were scientists, it was always inspiring to spend a few minutes gazing at that plaque and remembering the rich academic tradition that us students were, and still are, a part of.

    Manchester as a city was also a lively place to be in. The biggest draw of the place for me was the independent music scene at Manchester, which was and probably still is the best in the UK. There were several pubs and bars around the University campus where there were live student bands, which I found to be great fun.

     

    What co-curricular activities and interests took up your time during your legal education?

    I was a co-founder and the General Secretary of the University of Manchester’s Indian Society. Out of all the events we organised, my favourite was singlehandedly organising a cricket tournament with the Pakistan Society at the University to commemorate the test and one day series that both nations played during that time. From selecting the venue, organising the equipment and overseeing the day’s events, it was a feather on my cap that I’m still deeply proud of.

    I was also a part of the International society at the University, which was responsible for welcoming all new international students to the University over a week-long orientation. In the last year, a German friend of mine and I were responsible for leading a team of 30 student volunteers, to show close to a few hundred new students around the university and the city of Manchester. Daunting as it was, the experience was a lot of fun for every single minute of it!

    I was also an avid debater in college. I was a member in the University’s debating Union, having represented the University at a couple of inter-varsity events. It was an interesting time as well in the UK politically, due to the Iraq war, the proposal to increase tuition fees in colleges and the role of the then Labour government. All of this made for very lively debates.  

    Have you always been keen on a career in corporate law and M&A? 

    I chose Corporate M&A as a subject largely because of my experience in my first internship at Crawford Bayley & Co. I worked for two months on a range of corporate matters and found this subject very interesting.

     

    What advice would you give students in avoiding a decision paralysis? 

    Personally I feel that a basic law degree from a good university is all you need to start a career in a law firm or to practice before the courts. Further studies make a lot of sense if you are looking at an in-house role in a company or getting into academia. The reason I say in-house roles is because a lot of what you learn during a Masters in Law (or during a Doctorate) can be of great value if you are actively involved in dealing with highly regulated industries or industries where the laws are still being evolved.

    Further studies also make sense if you are looking at working abroad and would need credits from the LLM / Masters course to write a local bar exam.

    If you are planning on working in a law firm in India or practising before Indian courts, a basic degree in law is all you need.

    There are, of course, many lawyers who pursue further studies as a means of experiencing life abroad or the academic rigor of a foreign university. This is worthwhile if your time and money permit.

    What influenced your decision to pursue an LPC as opposed to an LLM from Inns of Court School of Law – City University? 

    I am a firm believer in practical experience and in courses that develop your skills as a lawyer. The LPC syllabus teaches skills such as legal research in a law firm, interviewing, and advising techniques, basics of advocacy as well as how to practically apply business, property and dispute resolution laws.

    The emphasis of this course is on teaching the basic skills you need in order to handle life in a law firm. The course also covered stress management in a law firm, interesting sessions such as reading body language, negotiation tactics and, my personal favourite, tips to preserving profitability in a legal practice.  

    Practising law in a law firm in India does not require a battery of degrees. It requires, in this exact order, experience, very specific skill sets, a clear understanding of the basic laws you covered during your LLB and lastly, confidence.

     

    From a law student to a lawyer, how will you describe the transition?

    I found this transition to be quite easy. The modules on the LPC Course and a very encouraging boss in my first job helped me enormously in making a smooth and quick transition into law firm life. Within two to three months of joining Crawford Bayley & Co., I was staffed on several critical assignments for the firm. I attribute this heavily to some of the soft skill courses that were covered during the LPC, such as interviewing and advising and research & analytical skill.

     

    Could you please share with us your early professional experiences at Crawford Bayley & Co.?

    It’s quite hard to describe the early professional experiences there, but I’ve realised that there were a couple of things that they emphasised on while working there.

    The first was on being able to handle an outsized challenge. Legal understanding is important, no doubt. But ultimately, in life, there is no rule book that prescribes the magnitude of a challenge that can be dropped on your head. There were more than a couple of times when I was thrown into the deep end of a pool and had to figure my way out.

    The other thing they placed emphasis on was staying calm, even in the middle of a storm. My first boss (whom I still deeply revere) showed extraordinary calm in some very challenging situations. Watching him over the years, and closely paying attention to how he carried himself taught me the importance of, as well as how to stay calm during difficult negotiations.  

    Thirdly, they expected decisiveness, even from a first year associate. If we expressed a legal view to our seniors, right or wrong, it was critical to be decisive no matter what. On-the-fence answers or highly caveated replies were not tolerated unless the circumstances were such.

    Lastly, but most importantly, creativity and out of the box thinking was deeply encouraged. Regard was always given to the more creatively envisioned answers or creatively presented views, as opposed to run-of-the-mill thinking.

    From my early years in the firm, these were the things that were imbibed vigorously into us. These are the lasting memories from my earlier years at the firm.

     

    How did you come to take up a position with AZB Partners? 

    I was looking for a change, and the opportunity to work in a large firm such as AZB. This move proved to be perfect for that. AZB is also a great place to learn a few advanced soft skills during negotiations and presentation of ideas; it was also a useful place to learn the latest industry trends and seeing how a top law firm handles a range of issues or how “calls” are taken on critical matters. These skills, along with some terrific partners that I reported to, made this a very positive stint.

     

    What are the key attributes that one must develop in order to excel in the field of M & A? 

    One common feedback that senior lawyers love giving to junior M&A lawyers is “build a commercial awareness”. Commercial awareness is of course critical in being a corporate lawyer and it eventually helps guide your evolution as an M&A lawyer. Unfortunately in my experience, no senior ever gives an intelligent answer on how one goes about doing that, whatever the reasons may be. And frankly, in twelve years of practice, I don’t think any of this so called “advice”, has made me any wiser.

    If you want to build commercial awareness, I would suggest making friends and developing close associations with startup entrepreneurs. Also spend time with them and learn about how their businesses function practically. A few years back, I partnered with a very dear friend of mine to develop a certain IT platform for companies. My role was to only act as a passive partner/investor and offer suggestions and ideas.

    The experience of working with my friend and experiencing practical problems first hand that a business faces in India were far more valuable in building a commercial understanding than in just blindly repeating ideas that originated from someone else. Hands-on experience carries powerful teachings, which can never be supplanted by simple observation and learning or by any number of books you read.

    I have also found that being in constant touch with startup entrepreneurs in a variety of industries teaches you a lot about what makes businesses work (or not), what sells with investors, how to evaluate long term goals and managing relationships.

    A good commercial understanding is the ability to understand a given business and effectively transpose the objectives of all parties with one another. When you are able to do that, evolving a legally sound strategy for your client and for implementing the deal becomes simpler.

     

    Tell us about your present role as a Partner at K Law.

    At K Law, I spend a lot of time working with FMCG, pharmaceutical and healthcare companies. I deal with regulatory issues that arise under different pharmaceutical and healthcare laws. This often involves presenting thoughts and ideas at a range of industry specific conferences and seminars and reaching out to industry bodies.

    Another subject that I have built a great awareness of is payment systems and RBI regulations on this subject. I also cover M&A assignments in these industries and for other industries such as energy, manufacturing and infrastructure.

     

    Did you have a mentor or guide during the formative years of your career? 

    Yes. A good mentor helps you define a career trajectory and give you the skills to fulfil it. My mentor and guide is Mr. R. A. Shah, the Senior Partner of Crawford Bayley & Co. Nobody has taught me more about law and legal practice than he has. I have also learnt a great deal from working at AZB with Mrs. Zia Mody and other partners such as Sai, Ashwin and Essaji. I also learnt a lot and owe a great deal to some terrific in house counsel whom I have worked with over the last twelve years and who continue to provide remarkable support to me even now.

     

    How do you manage to maintain a work-life balance as a busy legal professional?

    Well, the secret is there is no way of maintaining a work life balance. The best way to come to terms with this revelation is to keep a big jar of Nutella hidden in your work area and liberally dip into it whenever required.

    But what I do try and do when I am not working or spending time with family, is photography, trekking, running (the Mahalaxmi Race course is my favourite), reading fiction, and playing the guitar.

  • Simi Rose George, Manager, Energy Markets Policy at Environmental Defense Fund, on environmental law, and her experience

    Simi Rose George, Manager, Energy Markets Policy at Environmental Defense Fund, on environmental law, and her experience

    Simi George graduated from NLSIU, Bangalore, in 2008. She then received her master’s degree in public administration and international development from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government in 2014. Her work is at the intersection of energy and environmental law, regulation and policy. She has transitioned from a career in corporate law (having worked with Linklaters and Clifford Chance) to her current career in policy analysis and advocacy.

    In this interview we speak to her about:

    • Her time at NLSIU
    • Her passion for environmental work
    • Her experience thus far

     

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

    I’d like to introduce myself as an energy and environmental policy professional, with an interest in many other public policy issues (too many for my own good!).

     

    Why did you choose to pursue a degree in law?

    My original plan was to study economics at the undergraduate level. The idea of pursuing a career in law hadn’t occurred to me. In fact, I’d never come across NLS. Around the time that I was preparing for my Class XII exams, my father brought along a shiny NLS prospectus. That year, they’d done a particularly good job of marketing the school. I was smitten, both by the course content (an education in law and the liberal arts (including economics!) immediately appealed to me) and the variety of opportunities that it offered. I wrote the entrance exam, and happened to make it. At the same time, I received an invitation to interview for admission to a very strong undergraduate program in economics. By then, I’d made up my mind about studying at NLS.

     

    Is the NLU culture truly more conducive to legal education, as compared to other universities that provide legal education?

    NLS was truly national in its character in that it attracted students from across the country. The opportunity to forge lasting friendships with classmates from across the country as a young adult was, in retrospect, an important early experience. That said, diversity in many other aspects was (and I believe still is) lacking, and it is heartening to see some efforts to address these challenges take root. [Editorial note: A new bill proposing 50% reservation for Karnataka students at NLSIU passed by KA state assembly could, however, change this. Read more here.]

    NLS offered many learning opportunities outside the core curriculum, both at the national and international levels, and allowed access to an excellent alumni network and a very bright set of peers. I did as much learning outside the classroom as I did inside it.   

    I’m not familiar with the teaching model or culture at other institutions, and so I can’t comment on whether the NLU model is intrinsically better than others. I do think that because NLS is a residential school, it offers many more opportunities for learning and collaboration with peers than otherwise possible. I remember working with my classmates on moot problems, preparing for exams (including splitting up readings and sharing summaries the night before an exam), and continuing classroom debates late into the night, long after our classes had ended. My law school experience would have been very different had NLS not been a residential university.

     

    What are the subjects that you took particular interest in, during your law school days?

    I really enjoyed public law classes at NLS – Jurisprudence and Constitutional Law with Prof. U.R. Rai was one of my favorites. I also enjoyed all the foundational liberal arts classes that were taught in the first few years of the program—Economics with Prof. Somashekar, Political Science with Prof. G Ajay, and Historiography with Prof. V.S. Elizabeth. Even though it has been a very long time since I sat in those classes, I still remember them vividly. Yes, they certainly played a role in some of my career decisions, including choice of graduate program and the decision to transition from corporate law to public policy.

     

    What activities, both academic and non-academic that you engaged in as a law student? 

    I’m glad that I tried out a whole bunch of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities at law school. I enjoyed mooting, and participated in quite a few national/international moots, which kept me busy throughout my time at NLS. I also dabbled in debating. Despite the lack of any talent whatsoever, I participated in several NLS inter-class dance competitions, which were always fun. I learnt something from all of those experiences, and they made for a richer law school experience. I highly recommend trying out all the extra-curricular activities that you feel drawn to, but certainly don’t believe that any of them (mooting included) are necessary experiences. I learnt a lot from mooting—the ability to think on my feet, written and oral communication skills, and research skills—but there are so many other ways in which you can pick up those skills. My sense is that things have changed in the years since I graduated, and that law students engage in a much broader variety of extra-curricular activities than my peers and I did. This is promising.

     

    Tell us about the student exchange programme that you’d undergone and your experience at NUS.

    The student exchange program at NUS was my first experience living abroad. It was a great opportunity to explore a different education system, immerse myself in a new culture, and meet law students from around the world. There was a difference in the quality of teaching. At NLS, we had a mixed bag of teachers – some were excellent, others were disappointing. At NUS, the quality of teaching was much more consistent. The quality of infrastructure and the overall administrative machinery at NUS far exceeded what NLS then had. On the other hand, it soon became clear to me that I’d taken the quality of debate and discussion within the student community at NLS for granted. Some of my best learning at NLS happened through interesting conversations with my classmates, both within and outside the classroom (everyone had an opinion!). I missed that at NUS, where the student community was somewhat narrowly focused on academic performance. On the whole, I returned to NLS with a new appreciation for everything it offered.

     

    At what stage in one’s law school life must one pick a field to specialize in?

    Having now become somewhat familiar with education systems outside India, I believe that our school system pushes students to make important career decisions too early, well before they develop an understanding of their interests, weaknesses and strengths. This is true both at the high school level, where performance in a single set of exams often determines which undergraduate institution you end up in, and also at the undergraduate level, where there is limited flexibility to choose subjects. Simply put, the system is already too rigid. I wouldn’t advise students to box themselves in further by specializing in law school. The best advice I can give is to explore as many aspects of the law as possible, whether through internships or co-curricular activities such as moots, writing, research etc.  All of these experiences will give you some clarity about your interests and strengths. In the long run, that will carry you farther than any sort of specialization at the undergraduate level.

     

    What drives your passion for environmental work?

    This is not an easy question to answer. I started my career in corporate law in London. I was on a lucrative career path, working with extremely talented colleagues in a wonderful city. Yet, I found myself deeply unsatisfied. Part of what I didn’t enjoy about working in a large corporate law firm is the lack of work-life balance. My parents worked in the public sector, and had very predictable schedules throughout their careers. Because of that background, perhaps, my vision for my professional life certainly didn’t mesh well with that of a typical corporate lawyer working in an intense, high pressure environment, in which staying up all night to close a deal wasn’t uncommon. It was the desire for a more balanced and sustainable lifestyle, combined with other factors, that prompted introspection about what I really wanted to do. As I started considering alternative career paths, I found myself drawn to organizations working on public policy challenges. This was not a big revelation, but a gradual realization. It was consistent with my experience at law school, where I enjoyed public law classes much more than the private law ones and chose to do all my internships with litigators who’d specialized in some aspect of public law. My interest in public policy is broad, but I eventually ended up focusing on energy and environmental issues, which I believe are among the biggest global challenges of our time. Every job comes with a set of challenges—mine is no different—but it feels good to work on issues that I consider important.

     

    When did you decide to pursue your masters degree at Harvard Kennedy School of Government? 

    I decided to apply to the MPA/ID program at the Kennedy School to transition from a career in corporate law to one focused on public policy. At the time, I was working as an associate with Linklaters in the UK. In my experience, an advanced degree can be helpful in making a career transition. The MPA/ID curriculum has a deep emphasis on economics and econometric methods. While I do not use those skills directly in my current role, my Kennedy School training has allowed me to become a critical consumer of quantitative research and analysis, which is helpful as I work closely with economists and researchers with a quantitative background.

    Graduate school is not a small investment. It is absolutely critical to have clarity on why you’re picking a certain program/school, your ideal role after graduation, and the ways in which the program/school of your choice will help you get there. I can’t say that I had clear answers to all of those questions when I joined the Kennedy School. I believe that classmates who had a clearer sense of where they were headed were able to make the most of their graduate school experience. Of course, there will be intervening circumstances beyond your control. You know what they say about the best laid plans of mice and men. But, in my experience, a clear vision for one’s professional trajectory is always helpful. I certainly haven’t figured it all out, but it is work in progress.

     

    Tell us more about your current work profile with the Climate & Energy team at Environmental Defense Fund.  

    EDF is an international advocacy organization based in the U.S. My work is focused on reducing methane emissions from the gas distribution sector, and advocating for changes to wholesale electric and gas market design in order to improve economic and environmental outcomes. I lead a portfolio of collaborative projects with industry under the broad umbrella of a partnership between EDF and Google Earth Outreach, manage EDF’s engagement in various regulatory proceedings before state regulatory commissions in the U.S. to advance organizational objectives, and work on issues relating to gas and electric market design in California. Undoubtedly, my legal background is a valuable asset in my current role.  

     

    If given an opportunity, what would you do differently in your career journey up to this point? 

    I’d worry a little less about academics, and focus a lot more on developing attributes that are critical to professional success—the art of persuasion, negotiation skills, and building a network of friends and colleagues to turn to for professional advice and mentorship.  The attributes that are most often emphasized in the Indian education system are not always the ones that are critical to professional success. Too often, we mistake academic success to be a marker of future professional success. Of course, academic discipline can help develop some of the attributes and habits that needed for professional success, but in my experience, it is not a prerequisite and certainly not sufficient to succeed in the real world.

     

    Is there any other suggestion you would like to give to our budding lawyers?

    Try to make your law school experience as rich as possible, whether by trying out a range of extra-curricular activities or by proactively seeking out opportunities that aren’t necessarily offered to you at law school. In doing so, you’ll get to know your interests and strengths, and gain some clarity about where to head after law school. Good luck!  

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Animesh Singh, Managing Partner, A&S Law Chamber and Consultants, on working with Amarchand & Mangaldas, and starting his own firm

    Animesh Singh, Managing Partner, A&S Law Chamber and Consultants, on working with Amarchand & Mangaldas, and starting his own firm

    Animesh Singh graduated from Symbiosis  Law School, Pune, in 2009. After a successful stint as Associate at AMSS, New Delhi, as Associate, he co-founded his own firm, A&S Law Chamber and Consultants, in Bhubaneshwar.  His areas of expertise include conducting litigation, conveyancing, drafting pleadings and contract agreements, arguments/ conducting hearings in the courts, client conferencing/consultation, legal research, drafting legal opinions, fact finding investigation/due diligence.

    In this interview we speak to him about:

    • His time at Symbiosis
    • His experience at AMSS
    • Starting his own firm

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

    I am a first generation lawyer. I chose to study Arts after my 10th because I associated more with the field of humanities, literature and philosophy. I have always been a hyperactive kid; thus, I was more into NCC and sports during my +2, and had decided to join the Indian Army thereafter. However, I had to change my career plans suddenly, because of an unfortunate accident and injuries sustained during one of the NCC trainings. Thereafter, pursuing Sociology as my higher studies was the plan, but Law being another challenging profession and a vast arena to explore, struck my inquisitiveness. Hence, I took up the challenge and today this profession supplements the kind of person I am. Further, it gives me many opportunities to satiate my habit to learn about various subjects and assimilate them to build questions of significance and law.

     

    Give us a brief overview of your life at Symbiosis.

    I had a fabulous time in Pune while studying law at Symbiosis. The initial three semesters I was mostly restricted to the classes and the hostel room due to the injuries I had sustained then. That apart, I have thoroughly enjoyed studying law there and getting the best of my friends for life. I really owe a lot to my faculty there; some of them have really shaped my vision for life and practising law. The number of subjects per semesters was grueling at times at Symbiosis Law School, and that did bring out the best in me.

    It’s not about a law school being private or government aided, but it certainly matters to be part of one premier law school in India as it holistically tailors one’s approach to learning and interpreting law by getting introduced to like minded people. And to be specific about Symbiosis, I would vouch that the kind of intellectual and creative freedom it provides to its students is incredible in itself, and such an atmosphere makes the students compete with oneself and not with each other irrationally, which I think is the best way to grow in life and profession. Lastly, I would state that, to me and to all, his or her law school is as “Rosebud” is to “Mr. Charles Foster Kane”, so I refrain from comparison.

     

    How much of a role do GPAs play in shaping one’s career path?

    GPAs are as important as salt to taste. GPAs would qualify one for the next university/institution, but not for the real working world and the unique level of stress one deals with while working independently. I was more or less a thorough and inquisitive student, yet not a scholarly one. My GPAs were only above average as I mainly focused on a lot of other activities and interests even during my law studies. Back then I spent a lot of my leisure time reading film literature and watching a lot of world cinema (ranging from African to Oceanian cinemas, esp. Indian, British, French, Polish, Bosnian, Brazilian, Japanese, Korean, Argentinean, African, Latin American, Iranian, Italian and Australian to even Thai etc). Pune being the breeding ground for filmmakers in India (having FTII and National Films Archive of India) I got introduced to many notable as well as aspiring filmmakers, which subsequently did alter my perception towards cognitive, societal, and universal issues in a notable way. I believe those who want to practice law should not restrict themselves only to the law syllabus provided by the university; everything that has rules/procedures is Law in itself, be it Fine Art, life, or Rocket Science.

    Juxtaposing GPAs and Career goals, I believe, once a professional degree is obtained, one can explore the new world; of course that requires the most basic necessity called inquisitiveness for everything tangible and intangible. In my view, one must concentrate on exploring his/her own personality and taste for life during the course tenure, rather than just getting entangled in Sections and Sub-sections. The best lessons of jurisprudence are scattered around outside the text books.

    If you are good, you are good; no GPAs or a certificate can define anybody who is going to practise law. One has to earn his medals in the battle ground only.

     

     

    What kind of internships did you engage in during your student years?

    I had undergone corporate as well as ligation internships during my student time. However, the corporate internships did actually outline my working style and perspective towards practicing law in the courts as I follow the same model of work culture even while practising litigation today.

    I specifically value my internship in JSA, Bangalore, during my fourth semester, and to be specific, I am grateful to Mr. Sajai Singh (Partner) for how he encouraged me during my internship to work on complicated legal matters single handedly without having to worry about committing mistakes. He too taught me to never judge one by his/her current capabilities, as those who keep constantly working with interest get better in that field sooner. That confidence building in me had proved to be really helpful in taking courageous decisions in my profession in later stages. That is the reason, we at A&S Law Chamber and Consultants focus greatly on training our interns/associates and provide them with the best work culture, learning experience, and creative freedom with whatever limited resources we have currently. We believe, as the human generation changes every 25 years, we would try our best in creating at least a few next generation top brasses in this profession.

     

    What are your areas of specialisation, and when/how did you go about choosing these? 

    Currently, we at A&S are dealing with a lot of cases relating to the Contract, Real Estate, Labour, Consumer, Family, Mining, Arbitration, Banking, Service and Criminal Laws. Our practice ranges from the tribunals to the trial courts up till the higher judiciary. I personally appear for many government matters, which give me ample opportunities to represent the public interests at large and is enormously satisfying. Categorically, there is no specialisation, per say, as I don’t consider it prudent to limit the practice areas and bring monotony to my advocacy skills.

    If I have to advise to any promising aspirant of advocacy, I would suggest him/her to explore various subjects in law before restricting to any specific area, as specialisation is a matter of eventuality and choice after considerable years of gathering experience and mostly falling short of time to focus on different courts and subjects. Thus, when one is energetic and young he/she must travel the distance and get enlightened before being branded wise and worthy to pick a single subject to propagate.

    Would you say law school prepared you for the real world practice of law?

    As soon as I graduated, I joined Amarchand & Mangaldas’s New Delhi office and it was a marvelous experience to be part of a Tier-I law firm in India. I worked majorly on Supreme Court matters there, drafting SLPs, researching legal principles and briefing eminent Senior Counsels of the Supreme Court of India during my tenure.

    Even though every law school prepares one in learning the basics of law and advocacy, the real world of practice has many variable factors to it other than these two. I believe my colleagues and friends in the profession definitely would agree to my statement. It’s a diverse, satisfying and unique experience to practice law especially on your own and all together, to each his own.

     

    What are the challenges that one needs to prepare himself/herself for when they step out of the comfort of a law school and into the real working world?

    Law school prepares one for the real working world just as Abhimanyu in Mahabharata was prepared for the Chakryavyuh. From my personal experience, and being entirely blunt, I must say, law students (first generation lawyers) who are aspiring to argue matters in the court rooms must not expect charity or abundance of opportunities just by the legacy of their alma mater; it’s a tough and merciless world out there. Though there are many Hon’ble Judges who really encourage young advocates to argue before them, one needs to either have his/her own clients or the permission by the mentor.

    Everyone must always know that whenever they are completing any professional course and joining the profession, they are starting again from ground zero. If one is extremely fortunate he/she will find a mentor especially in this profession. Moreover, as this profession involves the best of the soft skills in every sphere, very seldom would one find that guru who is going to train the fresh graduates out of his/her own volition. It is painful and tragic sometimes, but it is worth it to be a first generation lawyer in the end. So in my opinion, the aspiring first generation advocates having the heart of the legendary Sempronious Densus only must enter the profession guarding their “own will power” every moment, as the glory shall follow for sure though after a good deal of ordeals.

     

    Who or what was your main source of inspiration which motivated you all along the way?

    My developmental years as a lawyer were mainly mentored by my introspections. I mostly take my inspiration from Mother Nature; she’s truly the best teacher and answer book one could ever have. However, I admit, I have been professionally stirred by reading about many eminent lawyers and other notable personalities (just like Ekalavya), as I had no direct training under them.

    My father was a civil servant, whom I have watched closely since my childhood dealing with complicated law and order  situations and taking wise decisions in the most adverse conditions; those moments have lasting impressions on me and inspire me to deal with issues and interests of people and the society as well as to work under challenging environments.

    Then there are many scriptures and literatures that have left an indelible mark on my life and personality. In addition to the support of my family, there are many near and dear ones who have moulded me, supported and motivated me constantly to make me what I am today. I consider myself to be perpetually obliged to all of them for their contribution, concern and affection towards me. In short, my main source of daily motivation is to make them proud and bring them a smile.

     

    What does a Tier I firm like Amarchand & Mangaldas (where you’ve worked previously) look for in prospective employees?

    Law firms like Amarchand & Mangaldas are warehouses of brilliance; they are the hardest training grounds any young lawyer can look forward to. The Top tier law firms generally look for one’s capability to work hard and smart; mostly doing the research, drafting and briefing work. However, anybody who is looking forward to being an advocate having notable court crafts and not just a lawyer, he/she must focus on either training under a good senior counsel or go independent and develop his/her own crafts.

    I have really enjoyed working with Amarchand & Mangaldas, though it was for a brief period of time. However, I feel, I have mastered my skills of advocacy during the course of my independent practice, where I had the liberty to make my own mistakes, amend it and learn my lessons.

     

    Tell us about your current association with A&S Law Chambers and Consultants as a Managing Partner. 

    My association with A&S Law Chamber and Consultants originates with the firm itself, as I am one of the founding partners of the same. My other Partner Mr. Susrut Varun Das is an alumnus of HNLU, Raipur and University of Aukland, New Zealand. We were batch mates during the +2 days before we even decided to study law. After completing our law studies and respective brief stints in two different legal sectors, we finally decided together to set up A&S Law Chamber. Mostly, the start up idea originated as we would often deliberate that the kind of legal services and solutions an advocate/lawyer can provide are colossal, but the same have always been overlooked by the traditional methods those are being followed since ages. Thus, we are constantly innovating novel ideas for the legal sector at A&S, which are in the pipeline and soon will be launched within a few years.

    We work 24/7 as of now and will continue to do so in building a team of lawyers, who would not only be competent, creative, ethical and smart, but also work on war footing and are ready to cater to the needs of the clients and the society at any moment.

     

    Give us a brief capsule of the life of a partner and your average working day experience.

    As I have expressed earlier, as a Managing Partner of a law firm and a growing organisation, I work 24/7. Only the associates and support staff avail the luxury of holidays and rests. My average work day is not restricted to any particular hours. I take rest when I crash out; either once in two weeks if the workload is too much or I just take a day off in a month or two, just to recouperate and come back to the job.

    Mostly, my day begins around 5 AM as I wake up and look after my small terrace garden taking care of my plants. Then by 7 AM I am caught up with phone calls even at home and it is followed by logging into the office by around 9-9:30 AM. Generally, on the hearing days, I log in by 8-8:30 AM and then the whole day is spent in the court rooms or travelling between different courts, and then after 5 PM I am either drafting or researching or meeting clients till the late evening till around 11 PM. Many times, even I leave office the next day morning around 6 AM, freshen up, and resume office again at 8 AM. There are no specific working hours for me, as is the case with every young lawyer.

    On the weekends, I remain caught up delivering lectures in various institutes pertaining to legal subjects, or else, if there is free time, I do some old school photography or catch up with some friends for a coffee or dinner (though, that luxury is very rare now). However, it is gratifying to be at the office and working for longer hours, as we have a very liberal set up and we are like a family at A&S.

     

    Is there any other suggestion you would like to give to our budding lawyers?

    I feel inadequately equipped to impart any wisdom as I consider myself to be a budding lawyer as well. I strive hard to learn new things every day. However, as a note of appreciation, I could state, the new generation of budding lawyers is truly inspiring in terms of their skills and capabilities. Thus, they must work collectively towards shaping society and not getting swayed away by the auxiliary perks this profession offers and forget their actual goals. All my impatient young friends in the profession should not worry for pecuniary success immediately and must remain determined (stitha-pragyan) while keeping in mind the Verse 38 from Chapter II, of the Bhagavat Gita that says,

    “By equalizing happiness and sorrow, profit and loss, triumph and failure while encountering a battle, and thus doing the duties one shall not incur any sin.”  

    I even love to learn from my associates and interns, who really honour their work.

    The only thing I could mark as the bottom line to this specific question is “the world is a school and you must never stop learning”.

  • Swati Dalmia, Senior Associate, Fox Mandal, on being a Company Secretary, and her diverse experience

    Swati Dalmia, Senior Associate, Fox Mandal, on being a Company Secretary, and her diverse experience

    Swati Dalmia graduated in law from Bangalore Institute of Legal Studies, in 2009. She then went on to pursue her Masters from NLSIU, Bangalore, with a specialisation in Business Law. She is also a certified Company Secretary. Swati has been working with Fox & Mandal, Kolkata, since November 2009.

    In this interview we speak to her about:

    • Being a Company Secretary
    • Her role at Fox & Mandal
    • Her experience thus far

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

    I believe in the dignity of labour. There is dignity in every job. And if anyone disagrees with me, I don’t even understand it. I do my job with a lot of effort, with all the right means. I am passionate and totally committed to my work. It’s been almost seven years in this profession and the journey has been quite fascinating, enriching and fun-filled; while working at Fox Mandal along with my seniors and colleagues.

     

    What motivated you to pursue law?

    If I would be allowed to say so, then with all modesty, I would admit more than me having to choose law, it chose me. Law enthralled me, embraced me, and gave me a vision. Studying law and practising law is not the same. Various people study many subjects but practise what they love doing most. When I ventured into this world of law I was mesmerised with its vastness. Post my board exams I wanted to move out of my hometown and started exploring opportunities, looking for courses and colleges, and then settled for studying law. Today, I’m happy about choosing this subject.

    How important are grades, in your opinion?

    Success is peripheral to hard work. If we work hard with the right attitude, seek knowledge at any and every given point of our lives, we shall surely be successful. There are no set standards to succeed, to each is his own. In our academic life we seek success by getting more marks but that does not ensure the making of a good lawyer. Yes, it does make you a good student; grades are very important since it is the most focused tool to measure one’s success rate. The hard work academically bears fruits when it is time to be selected among the lot, good grades give you accessibility to a better platform. It is more important to be a consistent performer and thrive to attain more with an undying quest for learning. There is a huge difference in being a good scholar and a real player in the industry.

    Tell us a little about your days in law school.

    My law school days were just fantastic, the best days of my life. It was an ocean engulfing me; there was so much activity all around me. I wanted to do it all. I maximized my time in a productive way, was very active as a student, and I loved being that way. I tried to excel in academics, participated in several moot court competitions, debates, seminars, client counselling sessions, research papers, etc. I pursued the company secretary course along with law and finished it even before graduating as a lawyer. I still remember the most stressful part of my law school days was writing my ninth semesters and then just after a gap of three days sitting for my CS Final exams. It was then that I realized how friends and family help you achieve your goals.

    I think I was quite enthusiastic and wanted to do everything possible which also included not missing a single party happening around me! Yes, I enjoyed myself and made friends for life.    

    What are the subjects that you took particular interest in during your law school days?

    Every student is exposed to all subjects in law. The curriculum is almost the same everywhere. Torts and contracts are the basic foundation and the most interesting subjects possible. But since I took up the company secretary course and later pursued Masters in Business Law, I think, as a fresher, I was at considerable ease (in comparison to other statutes) while working on the companies act and its allied statutes.

    But I strongly feel that law school days are the time to explore academically and not to decide upon your career option. One has to make a choice and may go with the flow and his instincts but the ultimate decision comes when one joins the industry and starts practising.

     

    In your opinion, what are the law school-centric activities that you would recommend as necessary experiences for every law student? 

    Read, read, and then read some more. Law school activities provide students an energetic and competitive platform to increase their knowledge and work on their oratory skills. Also, unconsciously, one develops the skill of working in a team.

    Any and all activities which we undertake make us a better human being, since we learn to rejoice our success and also handle failures with grace. It may not be an indication to whether one shall become a successful advocate or not, but it is surely important in shaping one’s law school days. Otherwise, as a student, life gets boring and mundane. I think as a student I wanted to do everything apart from writing an exam (which was compulsory). My most memorable days were winning and being appreciated for my mooting skills, and the cherry on the cake was when we won a debate competition related to child rights organized by Legal Assistance Forum.     

     

    Tell us about your experiences as intern at S. Jalan & Company, Kolkata as well as Fox & Mandal, Bangalore.

    I was fortunate enough to get these opportunities both at S. Jalan and Fox Mandal. My internship at these places certainly played a role because it helped prospective employers to know about me as a worker and also as a person. I personally feel, as an intern (also as a fresher), my seniors never expected me to do everything correctly but what was more important is my attitude towards my assignments. There has to be a balanced enthusiasm to take up work and try to finish it within timelines.

    My advice would be never to seek an internship only for the purpose of holding a certificate. It would do more damage than by choosing simply not to do it. It you are interning at a firm, then reach out to the associates and seniors and ask for work and get back to them after completing it. One should try to research well and push information in the simplest way possible (without relying on Wikipedia).

     

    What are the challenges that one needs to prepare himself/herself for when they step out of the comfort of a law school and into the real working world?

    The first and foremost challenge is to be in working mode for ten continuous hours every day. There are no official breaks in between and the offices do not stop working at 4 PM. The next thing I feel is acclimatizing to a new place and getting yourself familiar with your colleagues and seniors. It is a transition process from a caterpillar to a butterfly. It is a new beginning when you leave an impression on others (who may be colleagues, seniors, partners or clients); so be focused, dedicated and disciplined.    

     

    What are your areas of specialisation in law? 

    I feel my senior Orijit Chatterjee at Fox Mandal (my mentor) has been very kind to me when it comes to my understanding of specialisation. When I was a complete novice and had no understanding of work which generally takes place in a full-service law firm, he just held my hand and very patiently brought out the best in me. I strongly feel my mentor has played a very important role in shaping my career.

    Initially, I tried developing my skills in general corporate, advisory and transactional work because those were the kinds of work which were assigned to me. But he never stopped there. He introduced me to a plethora of work and made me work on diverse matters under strict deadlines. Honestly, I quite enjoyed it. It was challenging and satisfying. He strongly believes in a theory and told me one day “you are hardly an advocate if you don’t practise in courts because that is the place where the real interpretation takes place”. These words still resonate in my ears and I feel it so true. He introduced me to litigation and since the last three years I have been actively involved in dispute resolution practice and today I am experienced with a 360 degree overview of a corporate transaction which takes place, from a non-binding term sheet to the enforcement of exit clause.

     

    Tell us about your current work profile with Fox & Mandal. 

    A regular day at work is buzzing, overflowing with work, and I certainly enjoy it. It is combination of discussions with seniors, attending courts/tribunals, meetings with clients, drafting, researching, attending conferences with counsels, and without even realizing the day comes to an end. Our profession is extremely demanding and one has to be fine with long working hours on a daily basis. But under the tutelage of Mr. Shourya Mandal (Partner, Fox Mandal) and Mr. Orijit Chatterjee, work is enriching and fun-filled and their deep sense of humility and legal acumen encourages me all the time to strive hard and reach for the next level.

     

    Where do you see yourself ten years from now? 

    The stalwarts in this industry make me seek more and more, when I see their quantum of success I feel like taking a deeper plunge. As I always say, law seeks me more than I seek it . It ensures I’m glued to it, that I love nothing more than being a lawyer. I’m sure in years to come I shall find a place in the legal history of the country, my own place.

       

    What is your message to our readers?

    Make most of your law school days. Go ahead, reach out and do whatever you desire. Get into action, then give your hundred percent and never look back. Enjoy, have fun, take trips and most importantly, make memories.

  • Saranya Gopinath, General Counsel, Khosla Labs, on being Executive Director at Step Up for India, working at Goldman Sachs, and her experience

    Saranya Gopinath, General Counsel, Khosla Labs, on being Executive Director at Step Up for India, working at Goldman Sachs, and her experience

    Saranya Gopinath graduated from Symbiosis Law School in 2011. Since then, she has been associated with Goldman Sachs India, Juris Corp, eGovernments Foundation, Novopay Solutions, and Khosla Labs. She is currently the executive director of a small not-for-profit organisation called Step Up for India, as well as the General Counsel for Khosla Labs and the incubated projects.

    In this interview we speak to her about:

    • Studying at Symbiosis
    • Being General Counsel at Khosla
    • Working at Goldman Sachs

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

    A first generation lawyer who has had wonderful learning opportunities and the chance to take advantage of each of them.

     

    What motivated you to opt for legal studies after school?

    My tryst with legal studies was a wonderful chance. Through 12th grade, I realised that I didn’t find myself with the requisite passion to pursue engineering. At around the same time, I started paying more attention to the Indian political and administrative systems and their impact. Having done my entire schooling in Dubai, the exploration was one which captured my thought process.  Several meetings and conversations later I found myself intrigued by the Indian Administrative Services. That was actually the plan, law was supposed to be the effective first step towards joining the IAS. My schooling experience across co-curricular and leadership roles provided fodder to that idea. But then I got introduced to corporate law, and here we are today!

     

    Having graduated from Symbiosis, Pune, did you ever feel that there is a divide between NLU and Non-NLU students?

    There is no denying that the NLU brand does help in getting your foot through the door, be it internships or your first job. But at the workplace, nobody has the time to find your university pedigree before reviewing your work. Just as any industry, your career trajectory is determined by how much you bring to the table when you are there. It becomes your only calling card.

    My two cents to non-NLU students: play the underdog card. Just work twice as hard.

     

    How important are grades, in your opinion?

    Grades are undeniably important while getting your internships. They also hold substantial weight while applying for further studies. They show someone how you value legal studies and how well you can apply yourself.  But there is an inherent disconnect in the question. Targeting the big bucks cannot possibly be the goal when you are writing your exams.

    As far as the workplace is concerned, they don’t ask you for your grades when you are gearing up for a negotiation. What does affect the chance of earning the big bucks is what you learn. The industry is cognizant of the fact that freshers may not know a lot of practicalities and in some cases, some subjects aren’t even taught in all law schools, such as securities law.  But they do expect you to have your basics in order. There is no replacement nor excuse for that. Any notion that one can pass by without adequately understanding and appreciating the law is dispelled rather quickly, big bucks being a far cry from there.

     

    What subjects did you take particular interest in during your law school days?

    Like a lot of law students, in the initial years I found IPR extremely interesting and my first few internships were spent trying to pursue that. But during later years I found love in constitutional law and corporate law. While my curiosity in the former found some outlet in the form of moots and other research, I found that my curiosity in the latter could only be satiated by internships. At my internships- I would try to chase down the partners who worked in areas I liked and asked them for work. During my first internship at Juris Corp. the takeover code had just got a re-haul and was released.  I had the opportunity to work on an analysis of the changes and that deepened my interest in corporate law, a feature which informed my future decisions to join Juris Corp as well as Khosla Labs.

     

    What were the activities, academic or otherwise, that you undertook in your law school days which in your opinion have shaped you and your career?

    Symbiosis provided a great atmosphere where you could pursue a wide variety of interests that tickled your fancy, be it curricular or co-curricular. I explored theater and paper presentations but spent a majority of my time in mooting. The mooting experience allowed me to fortify my basics and develop the ability to think about every topic laterally, a skill that helps me immensely in my current role. Modern day legal challenges involve applying existing legal principles to new concepts in fields such as finance and technology. The skills learnt in mooting help address these challenges with a strong foundation.

     

    Who was your mentor, or main source of inspiration who motivated you all along the way?

    While I have not had one mentor, so to speak, I’ve been fortunate to have had a whole bunch of great influences. My parents and my brother have influenced my work ethic and my brother, in particular, encouraged a sense of curiosity. But apart from my family and of course my friends in law school, I have had great seniors and bosses who always encouraged me and pushed me beyond my comfort zone. One memory that stands out is when Mr. Jayesh was working personally on a transaction and we were drafting into the early hours of the morning. At about 3 AM, I disagreed with him about the way a certain clause needs to be drafted. Considering I was a second year associate, he could have told me that we could discuss it in detail later. But instead, at 3 AM, he spent time explaining the concept to the point where he was convinced that I was convinced. That experience really made me understand how the profession is not just about knocking out documents. Yet, that was just one of the many experiences in Juris Corp. Suprio Bose, Sonali Sharma, Veena Sivaramakrishnan and Hoshedar Wadia have each encouraged me to continue asking questions. And great colleagues like Bharat Budholia and Manali Gogate have kept the learning spark alive. At Khosla Labs, Srikanth Nadhamuni has lead by example in showing what inclusive leadership looks like.

     

    What kind of internships did you engage in during your student years which you feel were invaluable to you in reaching your current position?

    Through my career, I have made a calculated decision to work with mid  to small sized firms to get more experience. It helped me work on diverse practice areas and take substantial responsibility early on, a strategy which helped me take on my current role without too much trepidation. My engagements with Crawford Bayley and a litigation lawyer in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh informed my decisions in the way I want to approach my practice and formed my principles in the workplace early on.

     

    What are your areas of practice?

    As general counsel in an innovation lab, my practice areas on a daily basis range from general corporate to intellectual property to labour law. Early exposure to different fields has helped me respond to the different challenges of the job. If after a few internships you know exactly which field of law you want to pursue- that’s great. But there is no virtue to it if it stops you from trying out different experiences. I think its perfectly fine to take your time in the workplace to decide the field. In my opinion, working full time and the responsibilities you take on cannot adequately compare to an internship, in influencing the career path you want to chisel out.

     

    Tell us about your experience as a secondee at Goldman Sachs India Finance Private Limited.

    Working with Goldman Sachs was a brilliant experience. I was fortunate enough to be seconded from Juris Corp and work with the VP of Legal, India as a green first year associate. Being exposed to the inner workings of a financial organisation such as Goldman Sachs was a great reality check. My learnings then and the responsibilities I was working on really influenced the manner in which I view transactions and the import I gave to understanding the practical nature of our work. It helped me understand the requirements of future clients and how best to assist them.

     

    Tell us more about your current job profile at Khosla Labs.

    In house practice is very different from firm practice, especially in a start up. Your colleagues need solutions and they need it fast. The impetus is on practicality rather than the eloquence of the advice. My aim has been to understand the different areas of operation as well as possible. Most often, the solution is a combination of legal and operational answers. As a result, my day largely involves meetings and having in depth discussions with various stakeholders. Drafting work often starts at about six in the evening into the night, with the idea being to wrap up in time for discussions and reviews the next morning.

     

    Between Bangalore and Mumbai, which work environment more is conducive to pursue law in?

    Mumbai is my first love. The city matches the enthusiastic pace of someone in their first job and teaches you the value of hard work. But to be fair, my experience doesn’t provide an apples to apples comparison because across the two cities. I’ve also moved from law firm to in house practice. As a result, my Bangalore experience has more highlights of diversity, in terms of professions and practices and as a result has introduced me to various thought processes.

     

    Is there any other suggestion you would like to give to our budding lawyers?

    Remain curious. Keep reading and keep asking questions. Not just in the field of law. Cultivate an interest in reading topics from different fields- economics, current affairs, technology, whatever intrigues you. If you get bored of learning, you run the risk of falling short of your potential.